Looking for townhouse in suburbs w. decent commute to Loop (Chicago: for sale, real estate)

[bklyngrl]

We currently live in Andersonville (North Side of Chicago) and it takes my husband almost an hour to get to work in the Loop in the morning. We were tinkering with the idea of moving out of the city to buy something and now that the CTA will be messed up even more until 2009 we'd like to take the plunge since the commute on the Metra doesn't look as bad now. It looks like we only have about 200k or less to spend on a place, we need a patch of grass for our dog, and 2 to 3 bedrooms (or 2 bed w. space for office). My family lives in Milwaukee so we'd rather be more North or Northwest since we go there often and would hate to take forever to get there. We recently moved from NYC so we really have no idea about any of the suburbs except for Skokie and Evanston which we believe are too expensive for what we'd like. Hope to find a place that is not super bland, my husband is from Russia and grew up in NYC so we'd like some diversity and a nice place to have our first child. Schools won't matter yet since we only plan on being in the place for about 5 years max. Thanks!

[reppin_the_847]

I'd check out Morton Grove right by the Metra station there. I just saw an advertisement in today's RedEye newspaper and one of the real estate companies had an ad featuring properties (condo's I believe) in Morton Grove, Buffalo Grove, and Northlake (south of O'Hare & well south of Des Plaines). Out of those 3 areas I'm sure that the Morton Grove Metra stop would only be a 25-30 minute Metra ride to the Loop. Glenview is also good & readily accessible by Metra, but my guess is that Glenview will be a bit more expensive compared to Morton Grove. Buffalo Grove is also a good area, but in my opinion is too far if you're commuting to the Loop. Good luck.

Originally Posted by bklyngrl

We currently live in Andersonville (North Side of Chicago) and it takes my husband almost an hour to get to work in the Loop in the morning. We were tinkering with the idea of moving out of the city to buy something and now that the CTA will be messed up even more until 2009 we'd like to take the plunge since the commute on the Metra doesn't look as bad now. It looks like we only have about 200k or less to spend on a place, we need a patch of grass for our dog, and 2 to 3 bedrooms (or 2 bed w. space for office). My family lives in Milwaukee so we'd rather be more North or Northwest since we go there often and would hate to take forever to get there. We recently moved from NYC so we really have no idea about any of the suburbs except for Skokie and Evanston which we believe are too expensive for what we'd like. Hope to find a place that is not super bland, my husband is from Russia and grew up in NYC so we'd like some diversity and a nice place to have our first child. Schools won't matter yet since we only plan on being in the place for about 5 years max. Thanks!

[llama214]

Quick commutes in Chicagoland?! I don't think those words will ever be able to be in the same sentence!! Good luck with the seach though. Finding the most ideal place is hard. Just wait to you have kids!! Then the real games begin.

[bklyngrl]

Yeah, we're not looking for a "quick" commute since we live in Chicago and it already takes my husband about an hour to get to work. It's going to be worse in April with no end in sight until at least 2009 so we might as well make the move now. We are just looking for something nice enough for 200k or less (not a condo, but prob. townhouse) that is not over 2 hours to Milwaukee. We're a growing business so we're hoping that by the time we have kids that need to be in school we'll both be working full-time from home or he can just do consulting work to give us a cushion. Of course we'd like to be closer to the city, but a commute around an hour isn't the end of the world. He grew up in Queens and we just moved from Brooklyn, so we are used to commutes into the city for work and fun. We're just done with no parking, no washer/dryer, no feeling of something beings "ours" and taking our dog up and down 3 flights of stairs to go to the bathroom.

[llama214]

I can't imagine having to do that. When my dog needs to go out, we just open the patio door and wait ten mins. When I lived in Fishers, Indiana I thought trafiic was bad. Was I ever wrong! Everytime I go to Chicago, I feel like my life is flashing before my eyes. I'm a good driver, but it is the other guy I was more worrieed about. The last time I went, I was with a friend and we used his vehicle. He has a Ford Expidition, and while roomy, not made for Michigan Avenue. It took us almost an hour, and dozens of hand gestures before we found a place to park. No thanks. While living in that immediate area would be nice, there is no way I could deal with the traffic. I'm to spoiled on the fact that it takes everyone in our town just a few mins to get to anything, even the day after Thanksgiving!!

[domergurl]

I'm sorry to LOL llama ... I just get a chuckle everytime I hear people down here in Fishers complain about traffic ... you should peruse the Indiana boards and see the people who complain!

We lived in and around chicago for 10 years and I don't miss the traffic one bit! I do miss the city with all my heart. But between the property taxes, how much more expensive everything is, and the traffic, I'll take boring old central indiana until my children grow up.

[OakBrookMom]

The scheduled construction on the red line is going to be a nightmare. I also saw that add about the condos and thought they were a deal but I warn you, condos usually have some tight rules about pets so I would be careful when you shop to review the bylaws. Cats are more commonly accepted than dogs. Where you would have the largest selection getting what you want up north is really northwest if you want to keep your commute time down. Palatine, Wheeling, and Schaumburg are all very good options. I'm a realtor so I hopped on the MLS for you, right now on the market in these three towns combined there are at least 30 townhomes or 1st floor manor/cluster condos listed UNDER 200K that (1) have at least two really good size bedrooms, some three and some with basements/lower levels, (2) have at least 1.1 baths - an extra toilet is always a plus, (3) have commuter trains within the town that get you downtown in rush hour taking the semi-express within 45 minute (Palatine's 7:20 gets in at 8:01; Wheeling's 7:13 gets in at 8:04, and Schaumburg's 7:16 in at 8:00 and 7:50 in at 8:33), and (4) they all allow dogs and have grass right outside their sliding glass patio doors from their living space. All three areas have easy access to expressways which hook up into 94 with Wheeling being the closest located due west of I-294 before the merge. Rates are at their lowest point in 15 months as the powers that be try to spark the spring housing market. So let me know if I can help you.

[nanannie]

What about Elmhurst? My single friend looked at a townhouse,older,on Fellows ct kind of by the High school.They are going from co-op to condo now.Nice yard,garage,end unit with 3 br and finished basement.walk to stores,quick to train(about 20-25 minutes to city).It was around 300 I think.He said these are rarely on the market and no for sale signs allowed.He found it on Realtor.com.He hasnt been able to sell his place (Morton Grove),so had to let it go.. Elmhurst is a really nice town...No,I'm not a realtor

[llama214]

Originally Posted by domergurl

I'm sorry to LOL llama ... I just get a chuckle everytime I hear people down here in Fishers complain about traffic ... you should peruse the Indiana boards and see the people who complain!

We lived in and around chicago for 10 years and I don't miss the traffic one bit! I do miss the city with all my heart. But between the property taxes, how much more expensive everything is, and the traffic, I'll take boring old central indiana until my children grow up.

I know Indy traffic isn't that bad, but for me, going from small town central Illinois, to downtown IUPUI, it was almost like learning to drive all over again! By the time I settled down in Fishers I hardly noticed it, but it still made me a littled frightened at times. I think that Indianapolis highways are actuallly very fast and easy to get around on. The traffic isn't 'bad' untill you step foot in the suburbs. Of course it isn't as big as Chicago, but I still think that IDOT could learn a few things from Indiana.

[snowgirl]

Originally Posted by bklyngrl

We currently live in Andersonville (North Side of Chicago) and it takes my husband almost an hour to get to work in the Loop in the morning. We were tinkering with the idea of moving out of the city to buy something and now that the CTA will be messed up even more until 2009 we'd like to take the plunge since the commute on the Metra doesn't look as bad now. It looks like we only have about 200k or less to spend on a place, we need a patch of grass for our dog, and 2 to 3 bedrooms (or 2 bed w. space for office). My family lives in Milwaukee so we'd rather be more North or Northwest since we go there often and would hate to take forever to get there. We recently moved from NYC so we really have no idea about any of the suburbs except for Skokie and Evanston which we believe are too expensive for what we'd like. Hope to find a place that is not super bland, my husband is from Russia and grew up in NYC so we'd like some diversity and a nice place to have our first child. Schools won't matter yet since we only plan on being in the place for about 5 years max. Thanks!

Well, I think I have a place for you if you are interested on a townhome, something in between Milwaukee and Chicago, it also have Metra 5 min away. What is great, I think, is that this place is only $ 195.000, 3 yr old, fully furnished (decorated professionaly), 3 bd, 2.5 ba, with ready office in the walk-out-basement and 2 car garage. It has everything ! It was the model for the builder. I don't know if you are familiar with the Fox Lake area. The new schools are 2 min away.
Let me know if you are interested.